Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy PSP Question Verification Form

The purpose of this Question Verification Form is to enable Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) to describe clearly how they checked that their questions were unanswered, before starting the interim prioritisation stage of the process.

The JLA requires PSPs to be transparent and accountable in defining their own scope and evidence checking process. This will enable researchers and other stakeholders to understand how individual PSPs decided that their questions were unanswered, and any limitations of their evidence checking.

Name of the PSP

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM)

Please describe the scope of the PSP

The objective of this PSP was to identify important research priorities for the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of patients with DCM. This project engaged orthopaedic and neuro-spine surgeons, other health care professionals, individuals suffering from DCM and patient carers.

Please provide a brief overview of your approach to checking whether the questions were unanswered

A broad search was conducted for each uncertainty to identify published systematic reviews, scoping reviews, clinical practice guidelines and clinical trials. Furthermore, clinicaltrials.gov was searched for any relevant ongoing trials that may address the proposed research questions. If any literature was identified, its quality was rigorously evaluated using validated assessment tools and professional opinion.

Please list the types of evidence you used to verify your questions as unanswered

Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, clinical practice guidelines, clinical trials

Please list the sources that you searched in order to identify that evidence

MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

What search terms did you use?

The search strategy varied depending on the uncertainty. Search terms included degenerative cervical myelopathy, cervical myelopathy, cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, surgery, outcomes, natural history, imaging, diagnosis, risk, prediction, therapy, etc.

Please describe the parameter of the search (eg, time limits, excluded sources, country/lanugage) and the rationale for any limitations

Only studies on humans and written in English were considered, with no other limits applied. There were no restrictions placed on date or country. The following types of studies were excluded: letters, editorials, commentaries, meeting abstracts and books.

Names of individuals who undertook the evidence checking

Lindsay Tetreault

On what date was the question verification process completed?

November 1, 2019